Why writing is important: Save our Stories

Every writer has his or her own way of writing. Stephen King is amazing because he churns out story after story after story seemingly without end. George R.R. Martin is incredible for his huge tomes. James Patterson is prolific. J.K. Rowling has created a world that an entire generation (or 2) loves. There are people that the book industry banks on to bring out best seller after best seller.

Then there is someone like Harper Lee. Until recently, she had one book to her name: To Kill a Mockingbird. This book was enough to win her the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contribution to literature. She published some essays, but no new novels until a little before her death in 2015.

​In between, there are a whole host of writers that get published and that’s great. We need their stories, we need them to be successful, and we need

How to help

Turn off your ad blocker.

Follow the writer on social media, especially YouTube.

Write a review.

Buy a new book.

Go to book signings and talks.

Write to conventions that you attend and tell them that you are attending specifically because of an author.

​them to be there so the publishing companies will take a chance on lesser known authors. However, the question we need answered is if that is how it really works

Pixar says it does sequels so that it can afford to also do original ideas. Does the world really need a Cars 3 or a Finding Dory or another Toy Story? I’m afraid I can’t tell you, but they did give us Up, Inside Out, and for better or worse, The Good Dinosaur. Is it really a matter of giving the public puppies, so that journalists can cover the real stories? Do publishing companies function in the same way? Does it matter?

Why We Need StoriesStories help us navigate the world. They allow us to learn empathy, and they give us a different perspective on life. The right story will speak to us for whatever reason, and even if it is fiction, we will be able to see the truth within. Good stories challenge us to be better, allow us to laugh at ourselves and help us keep our humanity in a world gone insane with greed, hate, fear and stupidity. Stories can help give us a break from the never-ending impingement on our lives of the not-so-smart phones. Stories can change us and the world we live in. However, they can only do so if we allow them to be told.

The Untold StoriesEvery story that is taken from us because the author doesn’t have enough time or energy to write it is a tragic loss for the human race. People can only advance through the written word. Many writers have more than one job. The other jobs may be uplifting and provide fodder for the next story, or they may be dead end, emotionally draining, creativity sinkholes that drag the author down to the point of depression and inability to put anything on the page.

Even if the story and the urge to write is strong enough to get the writer to wake up at 5 am just to get it written without kids, work or the constant influx of texts, emails and virtual messengers interrupting the flow of the process, there are other things that can stop a writer from being able to produce work. A previously published writer may have difficulty getting another writing contract. She may have written book after book and know that she is good enough to be published and yet, for some unknown vagaries of the publishing system, she may not be able to get her books published. Success can be just as paralyzing as failure because success tells you can even when you aren’t.

Some writers may take other writing jobs to pay the bills or to justify their existence in a capitalist society. Of course, the writing jobs that pay the best require the least amount of work, but also offer the least creative prospects, and every writer only has so many words in him per day until there is no good way to continue writing. These writers no longer write their own stories, but in the best case scenario, they write the stories of others, and in worst case scenarios, they write not for people but for the Internet and its algorithms so that other content can be found and its products purchased.

Writers are artists; they have their moods. When the writing muse hits and they enter the flow, the last thing they want to do is stop for any reason. Practiced writers know how to enter the flow state, but research has shown that it takes about 20 minutes of activity before the creative juices can flow at full power. (Again, it differs from person to person, but this is an average.) Depending on temperament, a writer may not want to get into a subject for fear of not having enough time to complete it.

How can you help your favorite writer?See the side bar for the short version. You’d be surprised at the number of things you can do to help a writer out, and they won’t cost you a dime.

Turn off your ad blocker. Some writers monetize their blogs; others are depending entirely on them for an income (like yours truly). If you are blocking the ads that appear on the page, you are taking away revenue. It doesn’t cost you anything to scroll past the ads or to watch them on YouTube, but they will help your favorite writer out. No content is actually free. Be willing to watch the ads, especially on your favorite content so that you can get more of the content you enjoy. A writer who has more time to write because he or she can spend less time worrying about the bills will write more.

Follow the writer on social media, including YouTube. Some writers will have a monetized YouTube account. As long as you don’t block the ad, you will be helping them out. Social media also gives you the opportunity to interact with your favorite author. Thumbs up, reacting, retweeting, sharing and commenting on every format helps those posts get better exposure.

Write a review. Good Reads, Amazon, the writer’s blog, the publisher’s page, wherever the book is listed, write a review. Let everyone know how you felt about the author’s work. It’s a good ego boost for the author and may lead to more sales, too.

Buy a new book. Yes, buying used is cheaper and better for the environment, but the author only makes money when you buy a new book. Not sure if you will like a book? Buy a used copy. If you want more of it when you are done, go buy a new copy. Then read the story again; it’ll feel like a new story in some respects. It will also ensure that you let the publishers know you want more of this type of book or more from this author. And the author will get some royalties.

Go to book signings and talks. You won’t generally have to buy book, though if you want something signed, it should be a book that you purchased on site at the signing. Otherwise, go and listen to the author tell stories, it can be a blast because you never know what a word artist is going to say or talk about.

Write to conventions that you attend and tell them that you are attending specifically because of an author. Maybe the convention will give the author a table or an opportunity to talk about his or her work at the next convention.